VENTILATION SYSTEM FOR A CAMPER

Abstract

The present invention relates to ventilation systems and solutions for caravan vehicles, sports campers of a teardrop caravan type and ventilation units for larger caravans and recreation vehicles. The ventilation system of the present invention is designed to draw air through the caravan or recreation vehicle during driving and to ventilate the whole caravan vehicle both below and above the floor interior.

Claims

1. A ventilation system for a caravan trailer, wherein the caravan trailer comprises: a housing, said housing further comprising: a floor section, space underneath the floor section, and a door, characterized in that the ventilation system for a caravan trailer further comprises a means for directing air flow into the housing, and wherein the air is distributed through outlets and into different positions in the housing.

2. The ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the means for directing air flow into the housing is a device for providing temperature-controlled air flow into the housing, and wherein the temperature-controlled air is blown through outlets to distribute the air into the housing.

3. The ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the means for directing air flow into the housing comprises one or more air inlets for guiding air into the housing.

4. The ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the means for directing air flow into the housing directs air into the space above and under the floor section of the housing.

5. The ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the space underneath the floor section allows flow of air under the whole floor section.

6. The ventilation system according to claim 5, wherein the floor section of the housing comprises a mattress and a support structure for said mattress separating the space above and under the floor section.

7. The ventilation system according to claim 6, wherein the support structure for the mattress of the floor section allows flow of air around the bottom surface of the mattress.

8. The ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the inner shell of the housing comprises channels for guiding air from under the space under the floor section of the housing into the space above the floor section of the housing of the housing.

9. The ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a drain at the bottom of the housing for exiting condense and liquid from the housing.

10. A ventilation system for a caravan trailer, wherein the caravan trailer comprises: a housing being assembled from an outer shell and an inner panel, said housing further comprising a door, characterized in that the ventilation system for a caravan trailer further comprises an air inlet in the side section of the housing, said air inlet is formed by one or more essentially horizontal groove in the outer shell, where a ventilation opening(s) is/are formed in the upper part of each of the at least one groove.

11. The ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein the surface of the lower portion of the groove is formed to guide water and out of the groove.

12. The ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet further comprises a shield covering and matching an indent and opening in the inner panel of said housing, said shield further comprising apertures for letting air into the housing.

13. The ventilation system according to claim 12, wherein the apertures are positioned around the edges of the indent in the inner panel of said housing.

14. The ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet further comprises a lid with apertures/openings for the air intake.

15. The ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet further comprises a filter for keeping larger particles and insects out of the caravan.

16. The ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein the lower portion of the groove, formed to guide water and dust away from the groove, has a concave or curved shape.

17. The ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein the shield is attached to the outer shell by a screw.

18. The ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein the air inlet comprises a spacing between the shield and the back side of the one or more essentially horizontal groove.

19. The ventilation device according to claim 10, wherein the system further comprises a spoiler device to be placed in front of the air inlet in the forward moving direction of the caravan trailer or recreational vehicle.

20. The ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein the outer part of the groove is covered by a filter/net to prevent larger particles to enter the caravan through the air inlet.

21. A ventilation device to be mounted in the side panel of a caravan trailer or recreational vehicles, wherein the ventilation device comprises: a frame an inner panel and an outer panel arranged in said frame, characterized in that the ventilation device for a caravan trailer further comprises: i) one or more essentially horizontal grooves in the outer panel, where a ventilation opening(s) is/are formed in the upper part of each of the at least one groove and wherein the surface of the lower portion of each groove is formed to guide water and dust away from the groove, ii) a shield covering and matching an infolded area and opening in the inner panel, said shield further comprising apertures/openings for letting air into the housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinafter and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a transactional side view of a caravan trailer outlining various components of the ventilation system of the invention.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a transactional side view of a caravan trailer demonstrating flow of air into and through the housing f the caravan trailer.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a diagonal transection view into a caravan trailer outlining some of the components of the ventilation system of the invention.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of the airflow through an air inlet of the ventilation system of the present invention.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a perspective and transactional view of an air-inlet according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of a ventilation device to be mounted in the side panel of a caravan trailer or recreational vehicles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described, referring to the figures. These examples are provided to provide further understanding of the invention, without limiting its scope.

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a transactional side view of a caravan trailer 1 comprising a housing 2, where the housing has a floor section 3 and a space underneath 4 and above 10 the floor section 3 as well as a door 5. The housing is mounted on a chassis 6 on wheels 7. The floor section of the housing comprises a mattress 11 on a support structure 12 for the mattress, which separates the space above 10 and under 4 the floor section. The figure also shows a device or means for providing temperature-controlled air flow 8 for blowing air into the housing characterized in that the ventilation system for a caravan trailer further comprises a means for providing temperature-controlled air flow 8 for blowing air into the housing through outlets 9 to distribute the warm air into the space above 10 and under 4 the floor section of the housing. The figure also shows how channels or longitudinal grooves 13 are formed in the inner shell of the housing for guiding (ventilating) air from under the space under the floor section 4 of the housing into the space above the floor section 10 of the housing 2. An air inlet 14 is also shown in the upper portion of the side panel of the caravan.

[0050] FIG. 2 is transactional side view of a caravan trailer 1 showing the flow of air into and through the housing 2 of the caravan trailer 1. The floor section of the housing is not shown in this drawing but arrows 4 and 10 point to the space above 10 and under 4 the floor section of the housing. The means for providing temperature-controlled air flow 8 for blowing air into the housing 2 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is a device for providing temperature-controlled airflow 8, such as a Webasto for distributing warm air/heated air 31, into different positions in the housing. The drawing shows how outside air 30 is taken into the device for providing temperature-controlled airflow 8 and warm air/heated 31 is blown underneath the floor section 10 and in the upper portion 4 of the housing 2. The drawing also shows the channels 13 formed in the inner panel 15 of the housing 2 for guiding (ventilating) air from under the space 10 under the floor section of the housing into the space above the floor section 4 of the housing 2.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows diagonal transection view of caravan trailer 1 disclosing the means for providing and distributing airflow through the inside of the caravan trailer. The drawing shows the means for providing temperature-controlled air flow 8 for blowing air into the housing 2 and the outlets 9 to for blowing temperature controlled into different positions in the housing. The drawing further outlines the channels 13 formed in the inner panel of the housing 2 for guiding temperature controlled from space underneath the floor section of the housing up into the space above the floor section of the housing. A drain 33 is shown in the bottom part of the housing for exiting moist and fluid which condensates in the bottom part of the housing.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows the airflow through the air inlet 16 of the present invention. The airflow 23 finds a way through the air inlet 16 through the apertures or openings 25 of the lid 24 and through a filter 26, which can be placed behind the lid 24 for keeping larger particles and insects out of the caravan. the filter with on the outside of the caravan trailer for allowing air intake. A filter 26 can be placed behind the lid 24 for keeping larger particles and insects out of the caravan. The airflow 23 finds a through the outer shell 14 via ventilation openings 18 in the upper part of each of the grooves 17 and from the lower grooves 17 the air passes between the shield 19 and the back side of the one or more essentially/substantially horizontal indent/channel 17 via a spacing 29. The airflow 23 thereafter finds its way into the caravan trailer housing through apertures or openings 22 in shield 19, but the apertures or openings 22 are formed near the indent 20 in the inner panel 15 of the housing to fit the shield.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a perspective and transactional view of an air-inlet for a caravan trailer. The air inlet 16 shown in FIG. 5 is formed by two horizontal grooves 17 in the outer shell 14 of the housing. Ventilation openings 18 is/are formed in the upper part of each of the at least one groove, whereas the surface of the lower portion of the grooves are formed to guide water and dust away from the groove in a concave or curved 27 bend in the groove. The air inlet 16 is covered on the inside by a shield 19, where the shield matches or fits into an indent 20 and opening 21 in the inner panel 15 of the housing. The shield 19 has apertures or openings 22 around the edges of the indent 20 in the inner panel 15 of the housing 2 for providing a way for air 23 into the caravan trailer. The air inlet 16 is covered by a lid 24 with apertures/openings 25 on the outside of the caravan trailer for allowing air intake. The shield 19 is attached to the outer shell by a screw 28.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows a ventilation device which can be mounted in the side panel of a caravan trailer or recreational vehicles. The ventilation device 50, has a frame 51 and an inner panel 52 and an outer panel 53 arranged in the frame 51 for forming the housing of the ventilation device 50. The ventilation device 50 shown in this embodiment has two essentially/substantially horizontal grooves 54 in the outer panel 53 with ventilation openings 55 in the upper part of each of the two grooves 54. The ventilation device 50 has a major portion of its back side covered by a shield 56 matching or fitting into the infolded area 57 and covering the opening 58 in the inner panel 52, where the shield 55 also has apertures or openings 59 for letting air 23 into the housing. The drawing also shows how the apertures or openings 59 in the shield 56 are positioned around the edges of the infolded area 57 in the inner panel 52 of said device. The lid 60 covering the grooves 54 has apertures or openings 61 for the air intake and a filter 62 is also shown for keeping insects out.

[0055] As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa, unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0056] Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise”, “including”, “having”, and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to exclude other components.

[0057] The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values and ranges etc. in case these terms, features, values and ranges etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).

[0058] The term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more”, and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claims that describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one”.

[0059] It will be appreciated that variations to the foregoing embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention can be made while still falling within scope of the invention. Features disclosed in the specification, unless stated otherwise, can be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0060] Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance”, “such as”, “for example” and the like, is merely intended to better illustrate the invention and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless so claimed. Any steps described in the specification may be performed in any order or simultaneously, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0061] All of the features and/or steps disclosed in the specification can be combined in any combination, except for combinations where at least some of the features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. In particular, preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention and may be used in any combination.